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The EC-0804 Smart Cleaner is another one of those bosses that can either be manageable or hellish depending on your AC build. Muck like the Juggernaut, your AC's leg type is going to be a major factor here. But don't get us wrong, the Smart Cleaner can destroy a fairly rugged build if it connects with two attacks; so, even if you are well-equipped, you may encounter issues.
That's why we will break down all the moves this mechanized monstrosity has at its disposal. On top of that, we'll also help you construct the best AC for the job. Don't worry friends, it isn't our AC that is going to get washed here!
AC Build Advice
When attacking the Smart Cleaner, you will want to damage the glowing red rectangle on its face. The bucket on its back is an additional target you can take aim at, but if you want to stagger the Smart Cleaner, the face is your priority. Since its arms are almost always protecting the side of its head, that means you want linear weapons. However, not jus🔯t any linear weapon, as we want to fight the Cleaner from a distance.
So, Bazookas, Grenade Launchers, and Plasma Rifles will be your weapons of choice. Additionally, it isn't a terrible idea to bring a Blade of some sort. They do great damage and are light, so it will give you a weapon to use once you stagger the behemoth, and it will allow you to pile on more damaging shoulder weapons.
Don't bring the DF-GR-07 GOU-CHEN Grenade Launcher. It does a ton of damage, but it takes so long to reload that it just doesn't feel worth it.
Speaking of shoulder weapons, homing missiles work okay when fired at a distance, but the Laser Cannons are an even better choice if you can make the weight work.
Now, when it comes to your Core parts, the thing to keep in mind is that all of the Smart Cleaner's attacks are defeated by either being above it or by being far away from it. So, we are going ꦑto want airtime. Thatไ means Reverse Joint legs or Tetrapod legs.
Reverse Joint legs will absolutely get the job done, especially if you pair them with a booster that has good EN Consumption stats. However, the Tetrapod Legs are your best option, as you can just hang out above the Cleaner and nail them at will for prolonged periods of time.
You could also look at 🥃trying to pump up your Anti-Explosion Defense, as that will help reduce the incendiary damage you take.
EC-0804 Smart Cleaner Attacks
Charging Clap
When the Smart Cleaner revs up, and then charges forward with its arms outstretched, it isn't looking for a hug. This attack is pretty fast and does a tremendous amount of damage. You will want to take to the air when you see the Smart Cleaner charging forward. However, if you are too close, and you don't have time to get to the air, a last-second Quick Burst to the side will work as well.
Lunge Punch
Here, the Smart Cleaner will lift their arm up, and then charge forward while delivering a plunging punch. You can either strafe this ܫat♔tack or hop over the Smart Cleaner.
During the second phase of this boꦗss battle, thಞey will often follow up the first lunge punch with a second.
Arm Swipe
The Smart Clear will rear back, and then take a giant swipe at you with their outstretched arm. You will want to leap over this arm as they are swinging it. The Smart Cleaner will sometimes drag their arms when they do this as well. It is the same idea, you just get more forewarning about the attack coming. Generally speaking, you will need to be higher in the air for the swipe that isn't dragging on the ground. Obviously, right?
Molten Metal Spew
The Smart Cleaner can spray a decent amount of the area in front of it with molten metal. It will make that area dangerous to traverse until the molten puddles have dissipated. Getting distance while this happ🃏ens is your best course of action. This is also a good opportunity to hit the weak spot on its head.
Molten Rock Spew
This attack sees the bucket on the Smart Cleaner's back spew multiple Molten Rocks all around. These don't hit for a ton of damage, but if you are above the Smart Cleaner when it uses this attack, you'll likely get hit by a rock or two. As soon as the Smart Cleaner starts using this attack, get distance from it.
Once you get the Smart Cleaner to around half health, they will start doing an advanced version of the Molten Rock attack. This time they w🦋ill ra🧸ise their arms, and increase the amount of Molten Rocks flying around. If you are close, this is a much more dangerous attack, but if you are far away, it is an opportunity, as the Smart Cleaner is wide open as it does this.
Rockets
This is the cleaner's only long-range attack. Sometimes it will fire two rockets with no homing capabilities at you. Needless to say, a simple strafe will neutralize this threat.
EC-0804 Smart Cleaner Battle Strategy
The Smart Cleaner is another one of those fights where if you insist on fighting on the ground, then it is likely going to be pretty rough for you. You can dodge a lot of their attacks with a Quick Boost to the side, but there is a much smaller margin for error. And it doesn't take many errors in this fight to get scrapped.
You will likely notice that there are two parts of the Smart Cleaner that you can target: the bucket on its back, and the glowing rectangle on its face. An attack on the bucket itself will do a small amount of damage. If you fire directly into the bucket from above, it will deal considerably more damage.
However, we wouldn't aim at hitting the inside of the bucket, as it is more trouble than it is worth. Instead, you are going to aim for the face. Feel free to shoot the bucket here and there, as you are flying over, or just in a position where there is no face shot, but that shouldn't be your focus.
A number of the Smart Cleaner's attacks will see it charge forward. A linear laser, grenade, or cannon shot will be able to hit the Smart Cleaner squarely as it charges in. However, you don't want to push it. More often than not, the better approach is to hover in front of the Smart Cleaner. If you are high up enough, their attacks won't hit, but you will still have a shot at the weak spot on their face. However, you will want to take both approaches, as when you are attacking from the ground, it means you will be able to have more air time when 🐲it is time to get above the Smart Cleaner.
Any time you need to recharge your energy, land on the other side of the Smart Cleaner, and get distance as you do so. In general, it is a good idea to get distance, as then the Smart Cleaner will need to close that🅠 distance again, opening them up for attacks as they charge forward.
Once you have them at around half of their AP, distance becomes even more important, as you don't want to be next to the Smart Cleaner when it starts raining down tons of Molten Rocks. Moreover, the version of the Molten Rock attack it does in the second phase forces it to lock itself into one location, with its weak point wide open, so it is a golden opportunity for you to land heavy attacks if you are clear of the flaming rocks.
However, your strategy doesn't really change during the second phase. So, keep piling on the pressure and the Smart Cleaner will fold.